Look at Lehigh's trip to Beantown

Hope Lehigh fans liked what they saw last week because unless they're willing to drive a good distance (Harvard this week, Holy Cross next week, Georgetown on Nov. 1) they won't see the Mountain Hawks football team in person for quite a while.

New England is beautiful this time of year, but this could be back-to-back horror shows in Massachussetts the next two weeks unless the defense picks it up and keeps the team in these games. Lehigh is facing two excellent quarterbacks in Harvard's Chris Pizzotti and Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph and fans/media/coaches alike are concerned about Lehigh's pass coverage and the team's ability to pressure the QB.

The offense has progressed and really looked good against Fordham, but it's doubtful that QB J.B. Clark and his diversified array of receivers will be able to simply outscore either Harvard or Holy Cross in a shootout.

The defense has to rise up and play better than it has against Villanova, Cornell and Fordham.

Of the two games, the one at Holy Cross is obviously more important because it's within the Patriot League.

The Patriot League really needs to add more teams so the need to fill out such a lengthy nonleague schedule (5 of 11 games) is not necessary.

Once you get into league play, you should be able to stay in league play.

I know the line about every game being just as important as any other, but the Lehigh guys are the among the smartest kids in the country. Even if they try to suppress the notion that everything is equally important, they know down deep that last week and next week are more important than this week.

Sure, they want to play well and win in such a historic setting and against one of the most prestigious programs in the country. But is it a must-win? No. Holy Cross is the must-win if this team hopes to contend for a league title and playoff berth.

Add it all up, and I don't see Lehigh winning this game. However, the important thing is for the Mountain Hawks to play well, stay competitive and have plenty of positives to build on for that return trip to New England next week when they will play Holy Cross at Worcester in a game that will go a long way in determining which direction this season is headed over the second half.